In only three days time we will begin the sacred season of Lent. Here we are being asked to give our “yes” to God and our “no” to the world. This season calls us away from our many excuses and justifications in order that we might encounter a total conversion of heart that is authentic and true.
Lent is a serious season that we must enter into with full intentionality. Our Lenten resolves should assist us in growing in the virtuous life and away from the ways of the world. Through the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we give our “no” to any pride found within us and our “yes” to our dependence upon God.
From our gospel we were told, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” Through such a statement Jesus is inviting us to a radical simplicity of heart that leaves no room for the evil one to enter in and lead us astray. A “yes” or “no” cannot be just a “maybe.”
It is easy to say “yes” to prayer in so far as we aren’t too tired. We are willing to say “no” to a particular sin, but are also willing to keep the door cracked just in case we want to revisit it at another point in time. We cannot hide behind such excuses, but must set out in order to allow the light of Christ to enter in and to illuminate our soul.
On Ash Wednesday we will be told, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Repentance is a “no” which is given to the ways of the world in order that we may give our “yes” unto God. Hopefully the mark of ashes that we dare to receive upon our forehead are not a ritualistic smudge, but an outward sign of our desire to cultivate virtue and thus give our “yes” unto God.
Let us prayerfully consider the full import of saying “no” during the season of Lent. “No” to meat on Fridays or “No” to a habit is train our will in order that it may always follow after God. To give our “no” and to grumble or look for loopholes to get around is to look at this season as a legalistic chore instead of an opportunity to grow in virtue.
Let us also prayerfully consider the full import of saying “yes” during the season of Lent. Our “yes” given to an increase of prayer, a particular sacrifice, or an increase of alms should be a total gift. The giving of “yes” does not need to be posted all over the internet or done in order to be seen by others. Rather, our “yes” is giving as opportunity to grow in virtue.
At the Annunciation Mary gave her “yes” unto God and at Gethsemane Jesus gave His “yes” as He underwent His sorrowful Passion. These were each surrenders to the will of God. May we too enter fully into the Lenten season in order that we may surrender all to God and use this season which will soon be set before us in order that our “yes” may mean “yes” and our “no” mean “no.”
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